Cut-off mechanism for heading machines



May 10, 1932.

'5 Sheets-Sheet I Filed May 27, 1931 May 10, 1932.

T. BRENNAN CUT-OFF MECHANISM FOR HEADING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1951 y 10, 1932- c. T. BRENNAN 1,857,997

" CUT-OFF MECHANISM FOR HEADING MACHINES Filed May 27, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet s Patented May 10, 1932 CHARLES 'r. BRENNAN, or WATERBURY, ooNNEcrIcur CUT-OFF MECHANISM FOR HEADING MACHINES Application filed May 27,

This invention relates to the cut-ofi mechanisms of metal heading machines of the type in which a rod, either hot or cold, is entered and sections cut off and carried into line with and compressed by a punch and die having complementary recesses that shape the cut pieces of rod into form, and as it is particularly adapted for machines for making metal balls, small or large, it is herein described as designed for forming balls.

In the prior machines of this class when the fed section of the rod is severed the transverse shearing movement of the cutter leaves the 'cut end somewhat rounded, or, if not rounded, oblique to the axis of thecut piece, owing to the drawing of the metal as it is sheared. As a result of this deformation of the blanks, which is particularly marked when hot rod is used, the blanks do not line accurately with and enter the semi-spherical cavities of the ball forming punch and die uniformly, and consequently when the punch and die come together the balls are not shaped perfectly spherical, or if spherical are more dense at one sector than another, and furthermore such irregularity of the blanks causes excessive wear on the walls of the punch and die cavities.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for machines of this nature, which will cut blanks from hot or cold rod in such manner that the ends will be square and in planes at right angles to the axes of the blanks, and which will carry these blanks into exact axial alignment with the semispherical cavities'in the punch and die, so that when the punch compresses the metal into the die, balls will be formed that are not only spherical but of equal density throughout.

This is accomplished in the illustrated em bodiment of the invention by arranging 0pposite the slide which carries the blade that cuts the stock from the rod, a slide with a blade that backs the rod, particularly at th cut edge, so that the section being severed will be closely confined by the blades and cannot be deformed when the cut is made, the actuating mechanisms of the slides being so 1931.. eria1 No. 540,266.

controlled and co-related in their movements that this is easily andsmoothly eifected.

Fig.1 of the accompanying drawings shows a plan of the improved cut-off mechanism applied to a well known type of metal headmg machine. Fig. 2 shows a vertical transverse section on the plane indicated-by the dotted line 22 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa viewlookingat one side of the machine and showing the backing slide operating. mechanismffio Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on larger scale showing the relations of the punch and die, and the cut-ofi mechanisms in the positions occupied when a piece of rod is about to be cut. ments related as when a ball is formed. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section showing thebacking slide controlling elements in one position. Fig. 'Tis a similar view showingthe backing slide controlling elements in another position. In the views only so much of the frame 1 of a heading machine of well known type as is necessary to an understanding of the invention, is illustrated. In a bracket 2 on one side of the frame is aslide 8 that is reciprocated by a link t connected with a crank pin 5. This slide has a cam groove 6 formed by hardened inset pieces 7 in which lies a roll 8 that is connected with the cutter bar 9. For the purpose of adjustment the roll 8 is mountedon a block 10 that is held in a slot 11 in the cutter bar by ascrew 12. Fastened to the inner end of the cutter bar is the cutting blade 13. Fastened to the outer end of the cutter bar is a lug 14 through which extends a screw 15 that has nuts 16 adjustable to limit the outward movement of the cutter bar, Fig. 2.

By this mechanism when the cutter slide is moved forward the cutter is moved inward across the end of the hardened bushing 17 96 through which the'rod of stock 18 is fed, and severs the section which forms the blank and carries it into line with the push 19 and die 20. This cut-off mechanism is of conventional deign, On the opposite side of the frame in a bracket 21 is a slide 22. This slide is connected by a link 23 with a yoke 24 that has a roll 25 engaged in a cam groove 26 in the cam disk 27 on the main shaft 28, Figs. 1, 2. PM

Fig. 5 is a similar view with these ole 5 Fixed on this slide is a cam block 29 and hinged on the slide by pin 30 is a plate 81 that has a cam block 32.

The free end of the plate 31 has a roller 33 which runs in contact with a cam bar 34 that is hinged at 35 to the supporting bracket 21. The cam bar 34: is held in engagement with the roller 33 by a plunger 36that is pressed inward by a strong leaf spring 87 which is fastened to an arm 38 secured to the side of the bracket.

Opposite the cutter 131's the backing blade 40 that is fastened 'to'the inner end of the backing bar 41. Adjustablylheld inaslot14=2 in the backing bar, by a screw 43, 'is a block 44 which carries a :roll 45 :thatv lies in the oblique slot 16 formed by the fixedcam '29 :andihinged cam-'32. :By this mechanism when "the slide "22 is drawn backward the backing blade is :iorced inward toward the cutter blade, and when the:slide is moved iorwar'd the backing blade is drawn outward. At the outer 1 end i of the backing bar is a lug47 and *screw1i8 forslimiting the 'inwardmovement of the backing bar.

Inime'diatel-y' ailength of :rod-is fedithrou'gh :theffeedbushing. 17*the'ou'tter blade 13 :moves inward against ones'idezof'the projecting end of *the rod and the backing blade 40:moves inward against the othereside so the rod -is :gripped between the blades. The cutter blade continues its inward zmovementzand the movement "of the "backing :blade is "reversed :and the pro ectin g end of the :rod \thus tightily gripped is carried 'acrossthe feed bushing and a lblank :cut :ofl'. .A continuation 'of Lthis :l'atter' travel -;of athe blades carries the blank into .line withithe :punch and die, :and-as'the punch closes the zmovement of the cutter :blade is :reversed while :the =outward movement er .the backing blade, continues, so :as *to avoid the punch.

The backingslide hasa longertravelithan :the cutter slide :and the 'timing is :such that :the :backing xblade moves :inward :toward the icutter Yblade faster than the cutter blade moves inward, but the cam mechanism for moving the backing slide tends to give the backing blade :a slower outward movement than the inward movement oi the-cutter slide as theyzmovetogether,for cutting and carryiirrg the blank ate the punch and die, so that the blankiwillbe closely-confined between the blades. This is pnssible TdLlBEiJO the .fact that themam surface "32 that moves the backing blade in wardz'and controls. its outward. mov. uneritsistniounted zon thezhinged plate 31 that hasthe roll engaged bythe-cam bar 34: WlllGlPlSIpl'GSSQd inward by the spring plunger 36. In other words, the positive mechanism rtends *to give the backing blade too much inward "movement and too slow outward 1novement,'in order to ensure a tight 'clamping of the :blank between "the blades, 65 "which action is'possiblerowing to the yielding slide cam with the crank which-operates the cutter .slide.

After the punch has been retracted, the ball which is formed is freed from the die cavity by the ejector pin-49 -'and is freed from the punch cavity by the ejector pin 50 which are actuated in the manner usual in machines of the 'type to which this cut-off is applied.

By the cut-off mechanism described the blanks are cut with .square sends and are ac- "curatelymarried into @Xlfll line witlnthecavi- "ties-otthe punch and:d1e-so .that substantially :perfect spheres of .uniform density are produced with .a minimum .wear on .the punch and die :and :the several cams which ;actuate the slides.

"The invention claimedis 1. A cut-off mechanism ifor Jnetal :heading machines evhich-have-bushingszthrough which the stock is fed -.and punches and-:dies for shaping the stock, said mechanism comprising a cutter blade and a rbacklng blade, ,a

slide with a cam jior reciprocating the .cut-

ater blade across ithefeed .bushing and .toward and Eirom axial fline with the punch and die, andaslidewitha yielding. cam for reciprocating "the backing blade across the axial ,line sot the punch and die and towardmnd from .the axial line of {the feed bushing, said cams :causing the blades to come together with .a

yielding pressure opposite the feed bushing, moveztogether fromsaid rbushing toward .the

axial line .ofthe punch anddieandthenseparate.

:2. .A cut-01f mechanism for ,metal :heading machines whi chili a-veibushings'through which the stock is fed and punches and :dies .for

:shaping the stock, said .mechanism comprising a cutter blade and aibackingblade, a slide with .a positive -cam for .reciprocating rthc cutter blade across the sfeed :bushing and .toward-and from-axial line with-the fpunchand die, .and .a slide with positive and yielding roams .for rreciprocating the backing blade across the. axial lineo'f'thepunch and die'and toward .andirom the (axial line of .the feed bushing,-said blade reciprocating mechanisms causing .the blades .tocome together opposite the iteed bushing, move together from "said bushing toward the axial line of the punch and die and then separate. 7

3. A 'cu't-ofi'1neclia1iism for metal 'h'ea'ding machines which have bushings'through which the stock is 'fed and punches and 'dies 'for shaping :the stock, said mechanism comprising; a. cutterrblade .andra bac-klngblade, a slid c "with acam for reciprocating the: cutter blade ;across the feed bushing and toward .and

:irom axial Eline with the-punch and .die, a

slide with a hinged cam for reciprocating the backing blade across the axial line of the punch and die and toward and from the axial line of the feed bushing, and spring means for pressing said hinged cam inward, said cams causing the blades to come together with a yielding pressure opposite the feed bushing, move together from said bushing toward the axial line of the punch and die and then separate.

4. A cut-ofi' mechanism for metal heading machines which have bushings through which the stock is fed and punches and dies for shaping the stock, said mechanism comprising a cutter blade and a backing blade, a slide with a positive cam for moving the cutter blade across the feed bushing and toward and from axial line withthe punch and die, a crank for reciprocating the cutter slide, a slide with positive and yielding cams for moving the backing blade across the axial line of the punch and die and toward and from the axial line of the feed bushing, and a cam for reciprocating the backing slide, said blade reciprocating mechanisms causing the blades to come together opposite the feed bushing, move together from said bushing toward the axial line of the punch and die and then separate. 7 v

5. A cut-ofi' mechanism for metal heading machines which have bushings through which the stock is fed and punches and dies for shaping the stock, said mechanism comprisinga cutter blade and a backing blade, mechanism for reciprocating the cutter blade across the feed bushing and toward and from axial line with the punch and die, and mechanism for reciprocating the backing blade across the axial line of the punch and die and toward and from the axial line of the feed bushing, said backing blade reciprocating mechanism comprising a slide carrying a fixed cam and a hinged cam, and spring backing blade, a slide with a cam for reciprocatingthe cutter blade, and a slide with a fixed cam and a yielding cam for reciprocating the backing blade.

8. A cut-off mechanism for metal heading machines which have bushings through which the stock is fed and punches and dies for shaping the stock, said mechanism comprising a cutter blade and a backing blade, a cam slide for reciprocating the cutter blade across the feed bushing and toward and from axial line with the punch and die, and a slide bearing a yielding cam for pushing the backing blade inwardly across the axial line of the punch and die and toward the axial line of the feed bushing, said slide also bearing a fixed cam for pulling the backing blade outwardly.

9. A cut-01f mechanism for metal heading machines which have bushings through which the stock is fed and punches and dies for shaping the stock, said mechanism comprising a cutter blade and a backing blade, mechanism for reciprocating the cutter blade across'the feed bushing and toward and from axial line with the punch and die, and mechanism for reciprocating the backing blade across the axial line of the punch and die and toward and from the axial line of the feed bushing, said backing blade reciprocating mechanism comprising a slide with a cam fixed thereto and a cam hinged thereon, a hinged cam bar, and spring means adapted to hold said cam bar in cooperative engagement with said hinged cam.

CHARLES T. BRENNAN.

means for controlling the action of the hinged I mechanism for reciprocating the cutter blade across the feed bushing and toward and from axial line with the punch and die, and mechanism for reciprocating the backing blade across the axial line of the punch and die and toward and from the axial line of the feed bushing, said backing blade reciprocating mechanism comprising a slide, a cam for reciprocating said slide, a cam fixed to said slide, a plate with a cam-hinged to said slide,

a roll mounted on said plate, a cam bar engaged with said roll, and a spring pressed plunger engaged with said cam bar.

7. A cut-ofl' mechanism for metal heading machines comprising a cutter blade and a 

